Three Spectacular Computer Pranks

There is nothing that is funnier than pulling a few good pranks on a friends or family member's computer. The reaction that you get from them is absolutely priceless. They freak out and get all serious, while you try to hide the fact that you know it is a prank and want to burst out laughing. If you want to experience this for yourself and have a good laugh, and if you want to get some people's heads spinning, here are three computer pranks that are sure to get a good reaction.

The first of the computer pranks involves changing the event sounds to freak out the user. When changing the computer's event sounds, the sky is the limit when it comes to the amount of creativity that you can put into this. A few good ideas that is sure to get a reaction that is worth capturing on video is that you can set their shut down sound to be one that exclaims that their computer is going to explode and that they better take cover. There will be a countdown, and then the sound of an explosion will be heard. Don't record this sound effect in your own voice. Go on the Internet and look for a file that contains this particular sound effect. You can do this by performing a Google search with the key phrases "Free sound effects," "free computer event sounds," and "prank sound files." If you are good with sound editing, then create your own sound file with your voice changed, of course, along with the sound of an explosion that takes place after a countdown. Another good prank that you can pull with the computer's event sounds is that you can set sound files that make the computer call your targets names, such as when they try to perform a certain function; you can have the computer call them a name that they hate. Then, you can set a piercing scream or other scary sound at startup that will have them jump out of their seat, scared to death because they never saw it coming. The list is practically endless, as just with the event sounds alone, you can prank your targets for a long time to come

The way that you set or change the computer's event sounds is by first going to your control panel, then going to "speech, sounds, and audio devices" (For Windows Vista or higher, you will go to "Hardware and sounds."), and then go to "sounds." Once you've done this, you will see a number of tabs appear. Choose the one that says "sounds." From here, you can change the computer's sound scheme, adding the event sounds of your choosing.

When it comes to the computer's event sounds, the only file type that will work is wav. NO other file type can be used, as the computer will not recognize them. If you find some sound effect files that you will like to use that are in another format other than wav, there are some free sound conversion programs that can be utilized. One audio conversion program that is free and easy to use is Switch Sound File Converter. Switch Sound file Converter will enable you to convert files into twenty-one file types with very little effort. Best of all, it is compatible with most versions of windows, including Windows XP, windows Vista, and windows 7.

The second of the most funniest computer pranks that is guaranteed to get a reaction that is worth capturing on video to relish over for a long time to come is to tamper with the autocorrect settings in Microsoft word. For instance, you will replace one word with another, so that when your targets type the specific word that you changed, another word will be replaced with that one. An example of this is let's say that you want the word "sex" to come up every time your targets type the word "the." If you change their auto corrections settings, this can happen.

In order to change the auto correction settings, you will first need to go to the "tools" menu. Then, go to "autocorrect options." Once there, check the box that says "Replace text as you type." Following the check box there will be two fields. In the one field, you type the word that you want to be changed. In the other field, you will type the word that you want to replace that word. For instance, you will type the word "the in the "replace" field, and then you'd type the word "sex" in the "with" field, as that will be the field necessary for the word to be replaced. Once you've done that, press the "add" button, and then press "okay." These instructions work for Microsoft Word 2003 and lower. The instructions are different with 2007

In Microsoft 2007, you will press the button that says "office." There is no "tools" menu here. Then, press "Word options." Then, a drop down menu will appear. From that menu, select the "proofing" option and then tab over once. You will then se the "autocorrect options" From there, the instructions are the same.

The final of the funniest computer pranks that will absolutely make your targets' heads spin is to fake that the computer has been infected with a virus or malicious software. This is extremely easy to do in that all you have to do is insert text into their screen saver fields.

For Windows XP or lower, you will first go to your control panel. Then, you'd go to "appearance and themes." Once you've done that, choose the option that says "change the screen saver." There, you will be presented with a list of screen savers to choose from. Choose the one that says "3D text," as this will allow you to insert custom text into the screen saver, making it say whatever you want it to. Once you select the "3D text" screen saver, you then press the "screen saver settings" button. There, you will find a text box where you can insert your customized text. Type a message that says something like, "computer has been infected," or "a virus has been detected." The idea is to get your target freaking out.

Now, if you are using windows Vista or higher, you will first want to access your control panel. Then, look for the option that says "appearance and personalization." In Windows Vista or higher, the option is no longer called "appearance and themes." After that, however, the instructions are the same.

Have a jolly good time putting these spectacular computer pranks into action. What's even better, you'll have some fabulous memories, as you play your target's reactions over and over again in your mind or on your camcorder, if you decided to capture them on video.